Sheikh Umer Esmail is a Canadian born, traditionally trained scholar who started his quest to acquire Islamic knowledge at a young age and continued formal studies of the Sciences of Shari`ah in different parts of the world for thirteen years.

He initially studied Urdu and Arabic as well as other traditional Islamic Sciences at the Institute for Islamic Studies in Dewsbury, UK. There he acquired an Ijazah (teaching certification) in Hanafi Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, Tajwid and the Ten Qur’anic Qira’at. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, where he studied under some of the greatest living scholars of our time; including Justice (Rtd) Shaykh al-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him). There he received an Ijazah in ten major books of Hadith. He also spent two years specializing in the science of Fiqh and Ifta’ (giving legal verdicts) and during this time he published hundreds of Fatawa (legal verdicts). Furthermore, he was blessed with the opportunity to study Islamic Finance under the tutelage of Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani.

After graduating, Mufti Umer Esmail worked six years as the Imam at the North Austin Muslim Community Center in Austin, Texas. In addition to leading prayers, he taught classes in Islamic Sciences, including Arabic, Tajwid, Islamic Finance, Fiqh, Aqidah, Hadith and Tafsir. He has been the spiritual Advisor for the Austin Chapter of MYNA since 2003.

CONTACT

CONTACT INFO

Anonymous Q&A with Sheikh Umer

Sh. Umer produces live session recordings of his answers every Wednesday. Check out our YouTube channel here to see all previous sessions.

View the questions that have been asked hereAsk your own anonymous questions here

Office Hours

Sheikh Umer is also available during the following office hours unless he has a prior commitment in-office or out of office. We advise you to call in advance to ensure a meeting time and avoid disappointments.

Nueces Mosque is a part of a greater interfaith community composed of different religious institutions in downtown and the great Austin area. Sheikh Umer participates in various interfaith events and speaking engagements.

For those seeking religious advice or counsling, Sheikh Umer holds private appointments and sessions for students and community members. Sheikh Umer participates in various interfaith events and speaking engagements.

Donation FAQs

Is my payment secure?

Do you store my credit card info?

No. All payment information is processed and stored with our payment providers.

Can I donate via ACH (direct bank withdrawal) online?

For ACH donations, please email us directly at [email protected]. We are currently working on enabling ACH donations online for our donors. This will be powered by Stripe and Plaid for secure instant bank verification and withdrawal! In the interim however, we can work with you individually to set up your donation directly!

Why did I get charged $1.00 when I set up my donation?

When you set up a recurring credit or debit card donation, we send a $1.00 authorization test charge to verify the payment card credentials. This charge will be reversed and your recurring donation will begin within 48 hours. If you do not see the authorization reverse or your recurring donation does not begin, please email us at [email protected].

Are there any other ways to donate?

We accept donations on site at the Mosque via donation boxes or our NEW credit card kiosk! If you prefer to donate in a way not currently offered by Nueces Mosque, please contact us at [email protected]. A finance team member will respond promptly to arrange your donation for you!

How can I get a tax receipt?

Nueces Mosque will provide an annual tax receipt to donors by January 31st of the following year. Interim tax receipts can be provided upon request. If you do not receive your annual tax receipt and/or we do not have your contact information, please email [email protected]. Nueces Mosque can not provide a tax receipt if it is unable to substantiate the donation you made. Note that you will not receive a tax receipt unless we have an accurate email address. Nueces Mosque does not mail physical tax receipts.

Are cash donations tax deductible?

Yes. However, you must request a tax receipt in person at the time of donation otherwise we will be unable to verify your donation.

Will I get a receipt if I make a noncash donation to the Masjid?

Yes, we are able to provide receipts for noncash donations to the Masjid upon request. However, by law, we cannot tell you what your donated items are worth. That will be the responsibility of the donor. Your tax receipt from Nueces Mosque will be limited to a date and description of the items donated.